Ameron, I certainly can't speak for every species of rat snake out there, but, in my opinion and experience, all of the wild caught ratsnakes I have run adcross had the absolute same response, bite the hell out of you and try to escape. I have found Trans Pecos, Great and Southern Plains Plains and Texas rats in Texas, gray rats in Alabama, and corns in North Carolina, and they all defended themselves with great enthusiasm. I don't really subscribe to the "you can breed a friendlier rat' theory, but as with most snakes, some acclimate to your presence. I hear the Asians are where it really is at for a fighting snake! I hope you will put this info in a blog somewhere and let us all just stick to the facts here about what we experience as compared with what we feel. While entertaining for some, it is beyond what most of us "feel" in rat snakes. While I commend your enthusiasm, I cannot see where you are going with this. I certainly do agree with you in the statement that we don't know all there is to know about their social structures in the wild, but since you keep single specimens, your observations are not field notes or about their social structures. No offense intended. Best of luck with your new T-rat.
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Todd Hughes

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